British Daddy To Go: A Billionaire Bad Boy Romance

by Adams, S. C.

  “That’s what makes you an incredible guy.”

  My heartbeat picks up speed. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”

  My driver, Stefan, pulls up to the valet at Pietros. I try to hide the shake in my hand as I hand him a cash tip and let him know I’ll call when we’re ready to head home. Maggie is already out of the car before I have a chance to open her door.

  I wipe my sweaty palms on my pants and take her hand. “Thank you for coming out with me tonight.”

  “Thank you for inviting me,” she says nervously. “I should be honest; this is my first date.”

  I stop walking. “Your first date?” I ask. She’s not that young, is she? I’m not about to walk into a restaurant with an underage girl.

  “I know that’s crazy for a twenty-five-year-old, but I have my reasons.”

  “I’d like to hear all about them,” I tell her, feeling relieved. At least I know she’s legal. Knowing this is her first date makes me want to get to know her better, too. What kind of a life has she led to be so sheltered?

  Inside the restaurant, the hostess leads us to our table. I have a standing reservation here on Friday nights for business meetings. I’ve never brought a date with me before, and the waiter’s surprise tells me he’s noticed this.

  “Welcome,” he says in a heavy Italian accent. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Jones.”

  “And you, as well. This is Maggie.”

  “Maggie! A beautiful name,” he gushes. “Welcome to Pietros. Can I start you with a drink? Perhaps your favorite wine, Mr. Jones?”

  I give Maggie my full attention. “I usually order a bottle of Brunello Di Montalcino for the table. It’s a red wine.”

  “Sounds lavish. I’d love to try it.”

  “Excellent. Bring the bottle, then, Lorenzo.”

  “As you wish, Mr. Jones.”

  Lorenzo walks carefully to the bar to collect our wine. The bottle is expensive, but the taste is exquisite. I can afford to spend a few hundred dollars on wine, anyway.

  “This place is beautiful,” Maggie says, her eyes darting around the Italian-themed restaurant.

  “The owners are first generation Italian. They modeled the interior after the landscape they left behind.”

  She sighs. “I bet Italy is beautiful.”

  “You’ve never been?”

  Maggie shakes her head. “No, but I’d love to visit someday. My best friend, Jenna, she spent two years globetrotting. Her photos of Italy are some of my favorites.”

  Lorenzo returns with the wine before I can add to the conversation. We study our menus while he pours, and we order before he leaves again.

  With our orders placed, we’re free to talk. I find that I want to know everything about Maggie. I don’t remember the last name of my last girlfriend, but Maggie is different. She draws me in a way that no one has ever done before.

  “You know, I don’t know your last name,” I admit. “And yet you know mine.”

  “Well, when everyone calls you Mr. Jones, it’s easy to learn,” she jokes. “My last name is Thomas. Magdalena Thomas. Everyone calls me Maggie. I prefer it.”

  “Magdalena is a mouthful, isn’t it?”

  Maggie laughs. “That’s an understatement. I’ve been going by Maggie my whole life. Even my parents think it’s better than my full name, which is saying a lot.”

  “Why?” I ask.

  She takes a small sip of her wine. Her lips don’t pucker, and she doesn’t spit it out, so I assume she doesn’t hate my taste in wine. “My parents are extremely religious. Naturally, they named me after Mary Magdalene. It’s surprising they would allow anyone to shorten it, but they were actually the first ones to do so.”

  “Are you religious?”

  “I go to church with my parents, but it’s not… as big a part of my life as it is theirs, I guess you could say.”

  I lift my own wine glass to my lips and savor a sip. “Tell me more about your parents. What are they like?”

  “Uptight,” she laughs. “Rigid. Dictatorial.”

  “Those are interesting adjectives.”

  “Fitting, though. I still live with my parents.”

  Despite my best effort, my eyes widen in surprise. “You do?”

  “I know, I know. I’m twenty-five, so I should have my own place. My parents don’t want me to leave, though. Every time I’ve tried, they find a reason for me to stay.”

  “That sounds more like a prison than a home,” I say. She bites her lip, and I fear I’ve gone too far. “I’m sorry. I’m in no position to judge.”

  She places a hand over mine. “No, it’s okay. You’re absolutely right. In fact, Jenna calls them the wardens.”

  A laugh escapes my lips. “I think I’d like this Jenna.”

  “I think you would, too. My parents, not so much.”

  “I won’t like your parents?”

  “Well, I meant they don’t like Jenna. But no, you wouldn’t, probably.”

  I intertwine my fingers with hers and take another sip of the wine. “I know they’re controlling, but why wouldn’t I like them?”

  Maggie giggles. “It’s more that they wouldn’t like you, I suppose. They don’t even know I’m here.”

  “You snuck out?”

  “No! They were out with friends. I told them I was going to Jenna’s, so they know I was leaving.”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I can’t believe a woman your age has to lie to get out of the house.”

  She tosses her napkin at me with a light laugh. “Oh, shut up. I know it’s ridiculous.”

  “It’s something,” I tease. “How can you live that way? I left my parents’ house at eighteen and haven’t returned.”

  “I guess I’ve never known anything else.”

  “Not even in college?”

  “I didn’t go,” she admits. “I wanted to, but they thought it would be better if I went to work right away.”

  I study her face. “I thought you only just started at Havisham’s?”

  She nods. “I did, and that’s a miracle in and of itself. My parents own a dry cleaner uptown. I’ve been working there since I was old enough to reach the dials on the machines. As soon as I graduated high school, I started full time with them.”

  “How did you end up at Havisham’s, then? Did the dry cleaner close?”

  “No. It’s still there, waiting for my return. My parents thought this job would get my dream out of my system.”

  “And what dream might that be?” I ask carefully.

  She blushes. “Oh, you don’t want to hear about that.”

  I squeeze her hand. “I assure you, I do.”

  Maggie studies my face for a few beats before deciding to share her story. “Do you see this dress I’m wearing?” I nod. “I made it.”

  “You did? Well, it’s fantastic!”

  “Thank you,” she says, her cheeks turning a brighter shade of pink. “I designed it as well. That’s what I want to do, design dresses. I’d like to work my way up to wedding dresses and become one of the big designers for women on their special day. But my parents want me to take over the family business, and they thought that if they gave me a little freedom, I’d agree to their plan.”

  Her eyes brim with tears that destroy my heart. How can her parents be so careless about her dream?

  “You’re not going to go back there, though, right? You’ll use Havisham’s as a stepping stone to get what you want.”

  She bites her lip and stares at the tablecloth. “It’s not that simple.”

  “There’s nothing simple about it, I understand. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a try.”

  Maggie sighs. “My parents built their company from nothing, and it would devastate them to lose it all. They want to keep it in the family.”

  “But it’s not your dream, Maggie. They shouldn’t force you to do something you don’t love.”

  “How would you feel if your company ended up in someone else’s hands?”<
br />
  I consider this, but it only brings up thoughts of my father. “You know, I built this business up from the ground, too. I won’t say I grew up with nothing, but my parents taught me the value of hard work. My dad had wanted me to be a lawyer like him, though.”

  “You? A lawyer?”

  We both laugh. “I know. Dastardly thought. I wouldn’t last a minute in law school. Dad knew that, too, so when he retired, he sold his partnership. He wasn’t mad at me for choosing my own dream over his, even though he wanted the law firm to continue with our name attached to it. In fact, my decision not to go to law school was the best thing that ever happened to him.”

  “I’m glad it worked out for you. I’m just not sure it’ll work out for me.”

  I shrug and hold my glass up in a toast. “That’s true. But you never know if you don’t try, right?”

  She taps her glass against mine and takes a sip. “You’re right. I guess I’ll think on it, but I won’t make any promises.”

  “That’s all I ask, Maggie.”

  Lorenzo returns with our food, forcing us into a comfortable silence. So far, this date is the best I’ve ever had, and I know more about her than I know about most of the other people in my life.

  I eat quickly because I want to get to know her even more. The way she’s eating her food and eyeing me tells me that she wants to get to know me even more, too.

  This is entirely new territory for me, and I have no intention of leaving it anytime soon.

  I like it – and Maggie – far too much to turn back now.

  11

  Maggie

  This is the most delicious chicken parmigiana I’ve ever had in my entire life, and that’s saying a lot. My parents are huge Italian food fans. On the rare occasion that we go out for dinner, it’s always for Italian food. I’ve had my fair share of chicken parm.

  “You’ve ruined me for other Italian food,” I groan through another savory bite. “I’ll be saving my paychecks just to eat here again.”

  Sean chuckles and twirls spaghetti onto his fork. “My sincerest apologies. Perhaps I’ll be the one to bring you here again.”

  The blood drains from my face. “You want to see me again?”

  He reaches across the table to hold my hand. “I’m sorry, I thought that was clear?”

  “I’m new at this, like I told you.”

  “Well, I’d like to see you again. And soon.”

  I shudder at the declaration. “I’d like that, too,” I admit. “You know, I’ve told you a lot about me, but I don’t know that much about you.”

  A throaty laugh escapes Sean’s lips. “You’re right about that. What would you like to know?”

  “Are you from England?”

  “I am. Born and raised just outside of London until I left for university and came to the States. I’ve been here ever since.”

  That explains why his accent is haughty but not thick. He’s had many years to lose it. How many years, though? Is it polite to ask someone how old they are? I don’t think so.

  “Do you go back often?”

  Sean nods. “Not as often as my parents would like, but I have a house there. If I’m honest, I go back for business more than my parents think I do. They’re not as controlling as yours, but they can be a lot to handle.”

  “You have a house in England? That’s incredible!”

  As soon as the words leave my mouth, I wish I could put them back in. He’s got to be a millionaire. He probably thinks I’m a poor girl who’s just in it for his money. But I really like Sean. I can’t ruin this by being uncultured.

  Sean doesn’t seem fazed by my exclamation, though. “I have houses all over the world, but the England house is my favorite.”

  “I’ve always wanted to travel. Italy is high on my list, but if I’m being honest, the UK is number one.” I blush fiercely. “I mean, if I ever leave the States, I’ll go to England and tour the UK.”

  He squeezes my hand tenderly. “Well, the next time I go home, you’ll be coming with me.”

  My heart swells with tenderness for the man sitting across from me. “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know,” he assures me. “But I want to. I’d love to watch you experience my homeland for the first time.”

  “Then it’s a date,” I say.

  We continue eating as my mind strays. Could I possibly love Sean after just a few encounters? I think I can. What I’m feeling now can only be described as love.

  “Tell me about your business,” I say suddenly, hoping to distract my brain from that dangerous line of thinking. “You said you started it from the bottom?”

  “I did. Like I said, I was supposed to be a lawyer like my father. When I decided against that occupation, I had to pave my own way. I went to Columbia and studied business. The guest professor for one of my classes owned a trading company. The work sounded interesting, and I decided in that moment that this was what I wanted to do.”

  “So you had a dream and you pursued it?”

  He considers this. “Yeah, I suppose that’s it. My company started small, just me and two other guys from college. It has grown a hundred-fold since then. Now we’ve got private investors, partners in the company, and clients entrusting us with millions of dollars.”

  My eyes widen. “That’s incredible, Sean.”

  He shrugs. “I’m sorry. This is probably boring for you. I don’t usually talk about business on dates.”

  “I asked,” I assure him. “I think it’s interesting. Are your parents happy with what you’ve become?”

  “Absolutely,” he tells me. “Mum and Dad want the best for me. They didn’t grow up with money; they earned it. They wanted me to do that, too. My parents were supportive of me when I first started out, and they really encouraged me to make a name for myself. I think their influence helped build my company into what it is. Like I said, I value hard work.”

  I giggle. “You know, I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”

  “I hope that’s a good thing and that you haven’t changed your mind about me.”

  “If anything, I like you more.”

  Sean’s smile melts my insides. “I like you, too, Maggie.”

  I’m so grateful that he feels the same way that I lose my ability to speak.

  “Have I scared you off?”

  “No,” I assure him, my voice barely above a whisper. “You haven’t.”

  We finish our meals silently. It’s a miracle I still have an appetite after all of this discussion of emotions. I don’t usually go around declaring my like for anyone. It’s hard enough to tell my parents I love them, let alone a guy I’ve had oral sex with a couple of times.

  Yet I like this version of myself. I like who I am with Sean. I like how brave he makes me.

  I like him.

  “Dessert?” Sean asks when he sees my empty plate.

  “I’m stuffed,” I tell him. “If you want, though, you can order something.”

  He eyes me lustfully. “I have a better idea.”

  A chill runs through my body. What does Sean have in mind?

  He waves down our waiter and settles the bill in record time. Grabbing my hand, he drags me from the restaurant and places me against the wall out front. “Stefan is on his way,” he whispers into my ear. Sean’s lips kiss a trail from my ear down my neck, finally finding their way back to my waiting lips.

  This kiss is nothing like the others we’ve shared. It’s less hurried and more passionate. It feels like we have all of the time in the world.

  I try to return his passion. My hands find his hard chest heaving with deep breaths. His heart is thumping as hard as mine.

  “You’re perfect in every way, Maggie,” Sean moans. “I never want to stop kissing you.”

  Behind us, someone clears his throat. “I’m sorry, sir and ma’am, but you can’t do that here.”

  The poor valet looks stricken. I wonder how often he has to break up an intense make-out session.

  Sean chortles a
gainst my neck. “Our apologies. Look at this woman, though. Could you keep your lips off of her?”

  The young boy doesn’t respond. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life! This week has been one for many firsts. I’ve had my first kiss, my first sexual experience, and now my first public make-out session. I don’t keep a diary because my life is so boring, but this week would have made for some interesting entries.

  Thankfully, Sean’s driver pulls up to save me from further embarrassment. Sean slips the valet driver a few bills, as an apology or as a bribe I’m not sure.

  My date opens the rear passenger side door and waits for me to climb in. The leather seat is cold against my bare legs.

  “To Maggie’s apartment,” Sean calls up to the front. “Close the partition, Stefan.”

  Sweat pools in my fisted palms. What is going to happen? I don’t live far from here. The car rumbles to a start and pulls away from the curb, leaving the restaurant behind us.

  “Where were we?” Sean asks, sliding closer to me in the back seat. He kisses my neck and places a smooth palm against my thigh. I tilt my chin to give him better access to what is now my favorite place to be kissed. “Right about here, I think.”

  I moan when Sean’s tongue darts out to taste my salty skin. The things this man can do with his mouth! He’s going to drive me crazy.

  My hands grasp at his shirt and push him away just enough to attach my lips to his. We groan in sync at the contact.

  “I want you,” he moans. “All of you.”

  I glance out the window and see we’re on my street, just a few apartments away from mine. Startled, I push Sean up and knock on the partition. “Stefan? Can you stop here?”

  “I’m sorry. Was I pushing you? I went too far…”

  I give Sean my best sultry look. “It’s not that at all! My parents are home, and I don’t want them to see me. To see us.”

  Sean nods in understanding. “Do you want me to drop you off, then?”

  I shake my head. “I want to pick up where we just left off.”

  He obeys my command and kisses me urgently. Feeling frisky, I use my tongue to probe his mouth the way he’s done to me. Sean must like it too because he moans and grinds his hips against my thigh. His cock is harder than I’ve ever felt it.